Stage 3A Non-Hodgkin's Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma was given. Here are the things we know about it.
- It's the most common type of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It's also the most treatable.
- According to everyone she's talked to, it's the best kind of cancer to get--that is, if you have to have a kind of cancer in the first place.
- They treat it with intent to cure it, not just put it in remission.
- Success rates with these treatments are "officially" in the 60-80% range, but the oncologist said he thinks they're actually much higher.
- The mass in her stomach weighs close to 20 pounds! (Yeah, that's pounds, not ounces) The doctor is shocked that she's not in more pain, because it's interfering with a lot of her guts! :)
- They think it grew quickly, and when that is the case it usually responds quickly to treatment.
And the treatment plan: She'll have at least 6, maybe 8 3-week treatment cycles. The cycle will start with a day of chemo, a shot to increase her white blood cell production the next day, 5 days of a steroid pill, and then 2 weeks of recovery. After 4 treatment cycles, they will do all sorts of tests again to determine how things are going.
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| Pre-Treatment PET Scan |
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